Register a birth

Babies must be registered within 42 days of the baby's birth. We can only register births that have taken place within the borough of Hounslow. If the baby was born outside the borough then you will need to speak to the local Register Office where the birth took place.

Register the Birth

If the baby's parents are married, either the mother or father can register.

If parents are unmarried and mother wants to include baby's father's details in the register they must attend together.

If father cannot attend the appointment, the mother can bring a 'signed declaration' (statutory declaration of parentage) from the father (the register office can explain how to do this).

The mother can choose to register the birth on her own if she isn't married to the child's father. The father's details won't be included on the birth certificate.

It might be possible to add the father's details at a later date by completing an application for the re-registration of a child's birth.

Documents you will need to bring with you:

passport or birth certificates for mother and father.

proof of address.

where both parents are married or in a civil partnership to one another, the marriage/civil partnership certificate.

If English is not your first language, feel free to ask a friend or relative to attend with you, but you must register the birth yourself.

Fees

Birth certificates can be purchased at the time of registration at a fee of £4.00 each. There are no free birth certificates issued.

Babies first or middle names can be changed or middle names added within 12 months of the birth registration. The fee to change a name is £40.00.

Corrections

If you have discovered an error in a birth record, it may be possible to arrange for the entry to be corrected by means of a marginal note at the bottom of the entry. The type of correction required depends entirely on what information needs to be changed. Some errors can be authorised by the register office; others will require authorisation by the General Register Office.

There are statutory fees to consider any correction. This fee is payable to the Register Office at the time you submit the application and any documentary evidence required.

Please note the statutory fees are for consideration of a correction and not the outcome.

There is also a fee for each certificate requested that shows the correction note.

Consideration by Registrar/Superintendent Registrar of a correction application £75.00
Consideration by the Registrar General of a correction application £90.00

Order a birth certificate

You can order a birth certificate from us on line or by post, if the child was born in the borough of Hounslow.

You can apply by in writing by sending us a letter with your full name and surname at birth, your date and place of birth and mother and fathers full names. Please ensure you include a contact telephone number, enclose your fee and a stamped address envelope.

The fees are:

short birth certificate - £10

standard birth certificate - £10

Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to the London Borough of Hounslow. Postal applications are processed approximately 5 workings days from receipt of application. Certificates are posted first class using the Royal Mail Postal service (we do not charge for postage). We are unable to accept credit card telephone applications.

Services and charges for applications made in person:

This service is subject to conditions. You will be required to complete an application form.

One hour service: £10 for each copy of the entry plus an additional fee of £15 for the express service.

Next working day service: £10 for each copy of the entry plus an additional fee of £10 for the service.

Certificates are ready for collection the following day from 3pm (collections on Wednesday between 12-1pm as the offices closes at 1pm).

Current registers: On the day of registration certificates are £4 each. After registration the fee of each certificate is £7.

We can also offer 1 hour service at additional fee of £15 or next working day service at additional fee of £10.

If the child was born outside the borough

Please contact the General Register Office or the local register office where the birth was registered. Hounslow Register Office are unable to provide certificates if you only have a volume and page number, quarter and district. These are the unique index reference for the General Register Office (GRO) and you should direct your application to them.